Territorial Central Command

"Corporal Kwela." Polk shouted as he opened the door to his office.

The soldier walked in and came to attention. "Take this piece of trash out of here and toss him back into the detention center. Polk barked out "…And he's not to be fed either. Let's see how flippant he is after a few days without food or water."

Polk pushed Sullen out the door, glanced at the pistol, paused for a second, and mumbled. "I should have blown your head off, you tree climbing barbarian. I don't need your cooperation".

"Major?" Captain Lant asked as he knocked on the half open door.

"Come on in, Captain." Polk said. "What can I do for you?"

"Sir we have a staff meeting… The group has been waiting for nearly thirty minutes." Lant stated.

Polk cursed. He'd completely forgotten. His conversation with the Prefect had him too preoccupied. He gave a quick apology, blaming the issue entirely on Sullen. "Ok, let's go." He said as he fully opened the door and motioned for the Captain to exit first.

The group rose as Polk entered the area. He offered a hollow request for forgiveness and made a gesture for everyone to sit. The room was filled with various staff officers, most of them were Lieutenants and Captains. Some were even Senior NCOs and there were one or two Majors present, as well. Every officer from the rank of Lt Colonel and above had either been classified as dead or MIA. It was all a result of the last attack made on the old capital. Voss believed that leaders, led. That was especially true in combat. To effectively command an officer needed to be in the thick of it, right with the soldiers. It was an effective strategy but their nation had paid a high price for it.

"Ok, gentleapes let's start with Sergeant Grogan. What do we have on the weapons and items we took from the visiting General and the two Coalition Soldiers?" Polk said

Grogan rose, nodded to the group and opened up something that resembled a briefcase. He distributed some papers and then spoke; "Here are some of the statistics we've gathered on the rifles. You can look them over and get back to me with any questions. They're indeed ancient. The design is far beyond anything we've seen or are capable of developing. We're trying to reverse engineer some of the pieces but it will be years, if ever, before we fully understand their complete, functionality"

"And what of the humans, Sergeant Grogan? Are they capable of developing these weapons? While we're tinkering around in our labs they could be mass producing these things in their factories" a Major Ares asked.

"Sir, Major Sidon is more informed to speak to that than I am" Grogan replied. "But in the brief conversations I've had with him on the subject he highly doubts it."

"Where is Sidon?" Polk asked as he gazed around the room.

"Umm, he's ill Sir. I'm here representing the TID, today." The nervous Lieutenant answered.

"Do you have anything to add, Lieutenant…ahhh" Polk asked

"Ovidius, Sir. Uhh…ummmm…First Lieutenant Ovidius" The Lieutenant replied clearing his throat. Ovidius composed himself as best as he could. He had no idea what Sidon's thoughts were on the subject but he was so uneasy he rattled off the first intelligent lie he could think of. "Only this Sir; we have no evidence that humans used such weapons during our last attack. Other than the two Visitors no more of these devices…umm I mean uh, rifles have been discovered. Our scouts report that no new factories have been spotted either, nor have they come across any human patrols armed with the new weaponry."

Ovidius paused as realized he had no idea what the reconnaissance units had or had not reported. They were infantry, he was with intelligence. The room seemed a bit stuffy and his heart began to beat faster as he waited for Polk to shout down his lies and end his military career before it even started. But to his surprise, Grogan rode in to the rescue.

"The Lieutenant is correct, Sir. The rifles are too meticulous and refined. The engraving and features could only be the result of some type of long lost automation. Yes they look new but they could have been preserved." Grogan added.

"Ok fine." Polk said. "We're getting off subject. What else can you tell us?"

"That's about it on the rifles, Sir. As far as the computing devices go, they too are relics." Grogan continued. "We've been able to somewhat figure out how one of the devices operates but whatever is powering it drains quickly. The other requires an authorization code and believe it or not its voice activated. I can state for a fact that neither we nor the humans have the knowledge to build anything close to it."

"That's astonishing." One of the officers said in amazement. "The humans must have uncovered relics somewhere."

"Or worse, they may have found a way into the capital ruins" Grogan added.

He went on and filled the staff in on the information he'd gathered. The other officers gave similar reports regarding their specific areas of expertise. When they were through Polk stood, dismissed a majority of the group, but asked Lant and a Major Ulysses to remain behind.

"Captain Lant," Polk said turning to his executive office "…you're to begin on plans to recon through the desert. I want these underground ruins found and ransacked. You're to figure out the necessary logistics, a likely route there and back, the apes you'll need, and the time you think it will take to accomplish the mission."

Without pausing he turned to the gorilla Major and said "Major Ulysses I want you to work with Lant but I'd like your focus to be on the impact his absence would pose to our internal security. I don't like sitting here while the humans probe our boarders and spy on our defenses. We're at about seventy five percent strength and they know it. Regardless, I want to go on the offence and show them that any confrontation would far more costly to them than it would be to us. But I just as equally don't like the idea of getting our infantry slaughtered trying to prove my point. I don't want to attack unless we're ready. You have until our next staff meeting to prepare your plans"

You have got to be kidding me, Ulysses thought. That gives me less than three days to plan. But both officers gave a "Yes Sir" and kept their personal feelings locked inside.

Polk and Ulysses had been friends their entire careers. Polk was his senior by mere weeks. In fact, if Polk died or ended up MIA, Ulysses was next in line to assume command. Polk knew from the ape's demeanor that the Major was less than enthused with his new assignment.

"I know what you're thinking Ulysses but you have a good head for tactics; Better than most apes, including me. I trust your instincts and I know I'm asking a lot out of you both, in such a short period of time but if things don't change soon we're going to run out of food. When that happens we'll have a civil revolt on our hands."

Somewhere near the old Maryland/Virginia boarder

"Don't move or I swear you're dead" the human cried out. At least a dozen raggedy dressed uniformed male and female soldiers appeared from behind the trees and bushes.

He sold us out Grazot mused. That's why he had us gallivanting down this open trail. He wanted us found. He looked a Narr and grit his teeth. By the expression on the Supreme General's face, the ape had obviously come to the same conclusion.

The human soldier didn't waste a second. He turned to the gorillas carrying March and pointed his weapon in their direction. "You!" he stated sharply "…put the stretcher down and step back. And you…" he said, this time to Ogden"…put the rifle and rucksack on the ground and get over there with them."

"Do it…" Robbins said as Narr's eyes met his.

He gave a couple of hand signals and three soldiers came forward. "Sergeant Mullins and Private Ross get the stretcher and move him by that tree. Corporal Landry, get their equipment and weapons and put it over there."

"Look, Lieutenant…" Robbins began to say.

"You just keep quiet. I'll get to you three in a minute" was the only reply he got back. "Come on, Landry move it."

"I'm tryin' LT but this thing is heavier than Coulter's evening slop" Landry grunted as he pulled Ogden's rucksack a couple of inches across the ground with great difficulty.

"Corporal Gentry, help Miss Landry with her luggage, please." The Lieutenant flippantly ordered.

"Roger, Sir!" Gentry replied with a grin.

Ogden showed slight signs of protest as the humans went for his sack. He noted Robbins shaking his head, signaling 'no'.

If this human betrayed us, I'll kill him with my bare paws Ogden thought.

Once March, Robbins and Hayes were separated from the gorillas, the Lieutenant lightened up, but only slightly. He offered the gorillas some water which was customary when the two species met. It was designed as a gesture of trust and was an understood signal for a temporary cease fire. Meetings between ape and human were rare and they were usually set up in a secure, neutral area, not out in the middle of nowhere.

"It's ok, take the water." Robbins said to Narr

"What? Are you their mother or something? I said to shut up. And what's going on, here? I wasn't aware of any prisoner exchange or supply trade. And you three should know better…" the officer said looking at the men. "You never bring those smelly animals this close to our borders. Are you just stupid? I don't know whether to…"

"Give it a rest LT" Robbins said, raising his voice slightly. "I came this way on purpose, Sir. I know it's highly patrolled and still far enough out to keep us from compromising our security. I'm also aware that there's an advanced recon base somewhere in the area."

"Yeah?' the Lieutenant interrupted, tilting his head towards the apes. "And now, thanks to you, they know it's out here too."

Robbins ignored the statement and continued. "Look Sir, I wanted us found. And this isn't what you think. These apes want to talk with General St James."

"I can speak for myself. My name is Supreme General Narr, this is General Grazot and that's my adjutant, Supreme Troop Sergeant Ogden. We are not with the Territorial Militia and we want to discuss a possible alliance" The General stated

Most of the soldiers found the statement amusing. The Lieutenant did not. It was hot. He was tired and he was hungry. He bantered back and forth with Robbins and Narr for a minute or two until he noted something that rendered him speechless.

"Look, LT, I'm not sure I believe it either but I want to show you something." Robbins said as he reached into the olive-drab sack.

"Take it easy. I don't know what kind of stress they put you under but if you make a wrong move…" The Lieutenant said as he again signaled for a few more soldiers to come forward.

"Like I said, I'm not sure I believe them either but we can't ignore this" Robbins stated as the shiny objects in his hand glistened in the sunlight.

"Uhh…uh are those…?" he said looking at the hand full of Nuclear Cells. He glanced at the gorillas and then back at Robbins. "Who are you?"

"Robbins, I'm a Platoon Sergeant with the One-Seventy-Fifth. We were ambushed in the flat-lands after the last ape attack. Two squads from my platoon we sent to recon the area, in opposite directions. I took command of one and my Lieutenant took the other. Three of us were captured, the rest were killed in the fire fight. Believe it or not, these apes helped me escape." He replied.

"These two men here … they're the others from your squad?" the Lieutenant answered in a slight tone of suspicion.

"No, the others are dead." Robbins said curtly. "I don't know who these guys are. They escaped with me. They've obviously been in captivity for quite awhile ...Because they claim to be… um ...Well let's just say they're not quite living in the real world."

The group, including the men were bound and blind folded; all except for March, that it. The Major was blindfolded and secured to the stretcher. They walked for almost two hours until they came to the edge of a clearing. Their route had been choppy and sporadic. Only a few trusted men knew how to navigate through the death traps that lie everywhere.

The Lieutenant gave a few signals and answered the daily challenge and reply. Once he was cleared he sent a soldier ahead with instructions that he was coming forward with prisoners and an exact count of human and ape.

As soon as they entered the human encampment, Narr, Grazot, and Ogden were caged. Robbins, March and Hayes were sent forward for questioning.

*** Two hours later

"Go and find Captain White. I want her here on the double" The human Colonel ordered. The soldier acknowledged the command and went on his way. "Take these three and see that they're cleaned, fed, and then confined. I want them guarded until I can make some sense of this. Oh and have one of the medics tend to that one's wounds." The second soldier nodded and ordered the three men out of the large tent. As soon as they were gone the Coalition Colonel turned to one his staff officers.

"What do you think, Rick?" Colonel Neal asked his intelligence officer.

Captain Richard Yuden sighed with a half smile and answered "I don't believe a word of it, David. Maybe they believe it, well except for that Robbins fellow, but it isn't true. How can it be? They're either nuts or they're lying. They are military though. Their vocalizations, phrases, knowledge of certain protocols, rank, and such seemed second nature."

"Perhaps they were tortured and brainwashed into believing it. March is in pretty bad shape and Voss has pulled this kind of stunt before." Neal replied.

"Yes Sir, but not like this. The others were suicide missions or designed to break down our command and control. This is different. …Americans… what does that even mean anymore? And what about their weapons?" Yuden paused, picked up the advanced M-16, and went on. "…And I don't mean this relic either. These 103s or whatever they called them, I've never seen anything like it. Look at the markings; US Army. Of course it's a moot point now. If these battery cells are legit, we're set. We'll finally have the access we need."

"There's this too, David." Yuden went on to say, "Some of their information seems consistent with what the ape prisoners have stated; Things about there being a second ape nation to the northwest, rumors of two rouge humans… Some of the apes claimed they'd fallen from the sky."

Yuden paused again as he held up one of the Nuclear Cells. "What do you think the Old-man will make of all this?"

Neal never answered due to the abrupt arrival of Captain Karen White. "You wanted to see me, Sir?" She asked coming to attention.

"At ease, Captain" Neal replied. "I want to show you something."

Colonel Neal held out the Nuclear Cells. She reacted in unbelief just as the others had, asking the same questions regarding their origin and legitimacy. Once the initial surprise had faded Neal ordered the technician to run some tests and verify their authenticity and capability. White was so taken by the objects that she scooped up the items and left the tent without so much as a; "Yes Sir" or salute.

Neal turned his attention back to Yuden and said, "Normally I wouldn't bother the General with something like this but theses so-called Nuclear Cells bring it to a whole new level. If I know St James, he's going to want facts and not guesses. I don't want to look like a fool in front of the old-man. I'm going to determine if these are indeed what they appear to be. As soon as I get the answer, I'll present it to the General"

"I can't blame you, Sir." Captain Yuden replied. "We've been searching for a power source for years that will reset the fail-safe devices. Now a box of them conveniently shows up out of nowhere, along with three apes that claim they want an alliance. But there is a faster way than having White's team take a week or more to run their tests. I could simply try and power up the reactor"

"Are you out of your mind, Rick? You know the risks involved in going that close to the city ruins. If you didn't time your entry into the tunnel just right you'll be dead." Neal stated.

"Yes Sir, but if they're what they appear to be, we win and we're in. It's game-over and a risk we have to take." Yuden replied in his defense.

Neal felt the pressures of command pushing against his nerves. His G-2 officer was extremely headstrong. "It's my risk, Captain, mine. And we're talking lives, here; human lives. The human race needs every soldier it can muster. The apes have choked off our food and raided our boarders ever since I was child. It's all we can do to hold them off. You'd have to take at least half a platoon, most of whom are specialists. You'll also need food and supplies we just can't afford to spare!"

Yuden recognized the anxiety in his commander's tone. But unlike Neal, the Captain wasn't the type to sit around and wait. And deep within he actually believed in the importance this mission would play if it succeeded. Because of that he felt that he couldn't back off.

"Please David" Yuden replied bluntly "Just consider the possibilities here. Let's say we wait on Karen and she verifies they're genuine…what then? You know St James will order us into the tunnel anyway. The solar generators take forever to charge. It will take her thirty six hours just to set up. I can be there and back in seventy two …roughly"

Yuden knew it would be more like ninety six hours but he'd embellished in an attempt to support his argument.

"Seventy two hours, huh?" Neal replied seeing through the understatement. "You work out your details and show me how you can accomplish your mission with one squad and minimal supplies and I may consider it. Oh and you have twenty four hours to do it in. But before you do that we need to question those gorillas and find out what their angle is. It'll be dark soon, let's get this over with"

*** The Detention Vehicle

The apes were crowded while sitting in the large cart. It was a combination of wood and iron bars. Narr, Ogden, and Grazot were housed with two chimpanzees. One of the chimps was bandaged from a wound to its knee. The other had been luckier. He'd been capture without injury. There was some room to spread out but not very much.

"What's he doing?" the healthy ape whispered to his wounded colleague.

"He's still sitting there. Keep working" the second chimp whispered back.

The human guard they were referring to yawned and wiped the perspiration from his brow. He opened a canteen and took a sip of water. He rose from his chair and stretched a bit as he tried to sake off his fatigue. He waved off a young human boy who was approaching the vehicle out of curiosity.

"What are children doing in a military bivouac?" Narr asked one of the chimps.

"You're Visitors aren't you? I guess you didn't all die in the raid." The ape replied with a small chuckle. "This is not a front line unit. They're a recon and foraging encampment. They take their young on these missions; for exposure and experience. Gets 'em used to seeing a few apes up close and it exposes them to life in the field"

"We'll that would explain why he's armed" Narr said sitting back down. The gorilla let the first two sentences of chimp's statements roll around in his head. His entire Contingent had been slaughtered because of dishonorable scum like him.

Seconds later a light creak sounded just as the chimp stated, "Ok, I got it."

The ape had managed to loosen some of the older boards in floor. There was iron reinforcing the wood but the chimp had managed to loosen and bend it enough for them to slip through. Nightfall was moments away. That's when the chimp wanted to make his move.

"Ok, Laarz they'll be changing the guard shortly are you ready?" The ape asked

"I got it. You just make sure you kill him get the weapon and then get into those trees". The wounded soldier replied.

"What's going on?" Grazot asked.

"We're getting out of here and we're going to kill as many of these men and women as we can. I don't plan on rotting away in one of their dungeons. Besides they'll probably end up shooting me anyway." The chimp replied.

The ape dropped out of the bottom of the wagon and onto the ground just as the changing of the guard was taking place. He waited until they were both distracted and pounced on the two guards with lightning speed. He snapped the neck of the first and brought his forearm down on the second. The human soldier wheezed slightly as bones and cartilage broke and shattered. It wasn't a loud sound but it was noisy enough to curiously draw the attention of the young boy from his tent.

The child froze when his eyes met those of the chimp. Its enormous, kept repeating itself in the boy's head. The chimp smiled and mumbled something about easy pickings.

The escaped ape prisoner quickly holstered the dead guard's rifle over his shoulder. Using all four appendages he darted for the young man almost like a dog. The child was still too afraid to move. A tear began to roll own his cheek and his heart beat so fast he started to lose consciousness. The chimp got closer and closer. He stood erect raised his arms and growled like a wild animal for effect.

Rata-tat-tat-tat – the shots we fired quickly but also sounded off loud enough to alert the entire camp. The expression on the chimps face turned from a savage snarl to painful shock. He twitched and lost balance as one of the bullets shattered his spine and punched into his heart. Forward momentum carried him towards the boy but his loss of dexterity caused him to fall dead on the ground, right next to the child.

"Are you ok, boy" Narr said as he threw the weapon on the ground. The young child stood there with tears in eyes as soldiers appeared everywhere and ordered Narr to go to his knees and to put his paws behind his head.

"I don't believe what I just witnessed, Rick." Colonel Neal gasped out in confusion. "He saved that boy's life. He actually killed one of his own to save that child."

"They're not; our own." General Grazot said stepping out of the shadows and tossing the dead body of the second chimp at his feet.

Several startled human soldiers pointed their rifles at Grazot and Ogden. Officers and NCOs began issuing orders and directing subordinates. The damage to the detention wagon was reported to Captain Yuden.

"I don't know what we're going to do with them now, Sir'' Yuden stated to Neal. "That was the only place we had to house prisoners."

"Get 'em secured and bring them to the command tent. I want them questioned without delay. The whole world is turning upside down and I plan on getting to the bottom of it right now." The Colonel ordered.